Local and global effects on the diurnal variation of the atmospheric electric field in South America by comparison with the Carnegie curve

Tacza, J.; Raulin, Jean-Pierre; Macotela, Edith L.; Marun, A.; Fernandez, G.; Bertoni, F.; Lima, Lourivaldo Mota; Samanes, Jorge; Buleje, Y.; Correia, E.; Alves, Guilherme José Turcatel; Makita, Kazuo

doi:10.1016/j.atmosres.2020.104938

Cited by 14 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 58 publications

(46 reference statements)

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“…Measurements of the atmospheric electric field on land can be disturbed by local effects such as natural radioactivity, convective processes in the planetary boundary layer, and pollution among others (Nicoll et al., 2019). However, when these local effects are correctly identified it is possible to study the impact of global effects (Tacza et al., 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit

Tacza,

Li,

Raulin

2024

Space Weather

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The suppression of high‐energy cosmic rays, known as Forbush decreases (FDs), represents a promising factor in influencing the global electric circuit (GEC) system. Researchers have delved into these effects by examining variations, often disruptive, of the potential gradient (PG) in ground‐based measurements taken in fair weather regions. In this paper, we aim to investigate deviations observed in the diurnal curve of the PG, as compared to the mean values derived from fair weather conditions, during both mild and strong Forbush decreases. Unlike the traditional classification of FDs, which are based on ground level neutron monitor data, we classify FDs using measurements of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS‐02) on the International Space Station. To conduct our analysis, we employ the superposed epoch method, focusing on PGs collected between January 2010 and December 2019 at a specific station situated at a low latitude and high altitude: the Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO) in Argentina (31.78°S, 2,550 m above sea level). Our findings reveal that for events associated with FDs having flux amplitude (A) decrease ≤10%, no significant change in the PG is observed. However, for FDs with A > 10%, a clear increase in the PG is seen. For these A > 10% events, we also find a good correlation between the variation of Dst and Kp indices and the variation of PG.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit

Tacza,

Li,

Raulin

2024

Space Weather

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“…The above-mentioned effects motivates the continuous monitoring of the GEC, and this can be indirectly performed through atmospheric electric field (or potential gradient, PG 1 ) measurements in fair weather regions. In order to identify a global effect of the GEC on the PG measurements, a comparison can be made with the "universal" Carnegie curve, which is the average daily variation in PG in fair weather conditions 2 (Harrison, 2013;Tacza et al, 2020). It was obtained from the hourly average of PG measurements made over the world's ocean and represents the global daily contribution of the electrical activity in disturbed regions (Whipple, 1929;Peterson et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring Global Signals in the Potential Gradient at High Latitude Sites

et al. 2021

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Previous research has shown that the study of the global electrical circuit can be relevant to climate change studies, and this can be done through measurements of the potential gradient near the surface in fair weather conditions. However, potential gradient measurements can be highly variable due to different local effects (e.g., pollution, convective processes). In order to try to minimize these effects, potential gradient measurements can be performed at remote locations where anthropogenic influences are small. In this work we present potential gradient measurements from five stations at high latitudes in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere. This is the first description of new datasets from Halley, Antarctica; and Sodankyla, Finland. The effect of the polar cap ionospheric potential can be significant at some polar stations and detailed analysis performed here demonstrates a negligible effect on the surface potential gradient at Halley and Sodankyla. New criteria for determination of fair weather conditions at snow covered sites is also reported, demonstrating that wind speeds as low as 3 m/s can loft snow particles, and that the fetch of the measurement site is an important factor in determining this threshold wind speed. Daily and seasonal analysis of the potential gradient in fair weather conditions shows great agreement with the “universal” Carnegie curve of the global electric circuit, particularly at Halley. This demonstrates that high latitude sites, at which the magnetic and solar influences can be present, can also provide globally representative measurement sites for study of the global electric circuit.

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“…The average fair weather variation of the PG calculated from 1920-1925 observations over the oceans on board of the Carnegie Institution of Washington research vessel "Carnegie" is known as the Carnegie curve (Parkinson and Torreson, 1931;Harrison, 2013). This curve is considered to reflect the variation of the diurnal activity of the global circuit and is often compared with the diurnal variation of the PG observed in fair weather conditions from other places on the globe (e.g., Kubicki et al, 2016;Nicoll et al, 2019;Tacza et al, 2020;Michnowski et al, 2021, and others). In the seasonal or annual variation many observations indicated a winter maximum in the atmospheric potential gradient compared to the summer.…”

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Analysis of diurnal, seasonal and annual variations of fair weather atmospheric potential gradient at reduced number concentration of condensation nuclei from long-term measurements at Świder, Poland

Pawlak,

Odzimek,

Kępski

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Abstract. The ground-level atmospheric potential gradient (PG) has been measured with a radioactive collector method in Stanisław Kalinowski Geophysical Observatory in Świder (52.12° N, 21.23° E), Poland, for several decades. Long-term measurements analysed previously revealed rather typical behaviour in the diurnal and seasonal variations of the PG of a land station controlled by pollution. Observation of the potential gradient at such a station usually show a maximum at local winter months which are mostly affected by anthropogenic pollution. The 1965–2005 series has been newly analysed to describe the Świder PG variations in greater detail, also in connection with an analysis of simultaneous measurements of condensation nuclei measured at 6, 12, 18 UT. An attempt is made to calculate the diurnal and seasonal variations at condensation nuclei number concentrations below 10000 cm-3. There is a decrease of the PG in the diurnal variation by up to 11 % in the winter, and no significant change in the summer. The reduction in the annual variation is 11–26 % with the biggest difference in February. In the summer months, this difference is negligible. Such differences can be predicted with a simplified model of electrical conductivity including the aerosol composition of water soluble and soot particles, the main components of continental aerosol. With this model we obtained changes in the conductivity and the PG in up to 30 % in the winter, and 6 % in the summer. Despite the efforts to minimise the aerosol effect on the PG, the character of the PG seasonal and annual variation preserves its character with a maximum in the Northern Hemisphere winter and the minimum in the summer.

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Local and global effects on the diurnal variation of the atmospheric electric field in South America by comparison with the Carnegie curve

Cited by 14 publications

References 58 publications

Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit

Effects of Forbush Decreases on the Global Electric Circuit

Measuring Global Signals in the Potential Gradient at High Latitude Sites

Analysis of diurnal, seasonal and annual variations of fair weather atmospheric potential gradient at reduced number concentration of condensation nuclei from long-term measurements at Świder, Poland

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